2013 — C-mine, Genk

7th Design Triennial in Flanders is an investigation into the social relevance of design and the responsibility taken by designers in our society.

This triennial focuses on both the way in which designers deal with conflict situations and the impact of their designs on society. Even more, ‘conflict’ for them is an opportunity to search for innovative social design processes and projects. It lends their work substance and meaning. The exhibition provides food for thought as to how, in the (near) future, we will be forced to interact with one another and manage our natural resources in radically new ways.

The designers show how, thanks to their design processes, they can offer solutions for various forms of conflict, from social conflicts between people to conflicts with the natural world, in the current economic situation and in a disrupted society. A conflict is rarely experienced as something positive and yet it seems to provide the necessary stimulus for innovation. Not innovation for the sake of innovation, but design with a clear social objective: the creation of a better housing, living and working environment.

The exhibition presents design concepts, projects, objects and processes that are mainly located within relatively new developments in the contemporary design sector: user-centred design, social design, participation design, process design, open design, and ethical design, among others.
Rather than limit itself to presenting the work of the designers, this triennial turns the spotlight in the first place on design thinking and design processes, and aims to actively involve the public in the event.